Commemorations on 11 November 2015

On the anniversary of the signature of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, two ceremonies were organized to honour all those who died for France

Ambassador Sylvie Bermann presided first over a military parade at Brookwood military cemetery alongside the senator representing the French nationals abroad, Oliver Cadic, the French Consul General, Sylvaine Carta-Le Vert, and the Defence Attaché, Rear Admiral Patrick Chevallereau.

Nine junior officers from the French military academy of Saint-Cyr and representatives of French veterans’ associations joined civilian and military members of the Embassy’s Defence Department to pay tribute to the French and foreign soldiers who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

The Ambassador said : "Here, in this little corner of France, which is testament to our national unity and which reminds us of the suffering of an entire nation, let us consider the price of peace. Let us remember that it can never be taken for granted.”

A second ceremony, presided over by Axelle Lemaire, Minister of State for the Digital Sector, Ambassador Bermann and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, took place at the foot of the Marshal Foch statue in London.

The deputy for French nationals in northern Europe, Christophe Prémat, the senator representing French nationals abroad, Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam, the senator representing French nationals abroad, Olivier Cadic, the Scots Guards of the Household Division and a delegation from the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, were present, alongside the Consul General, the Defence Attaché, junior officers from Saint-Cyr, civilian and military members of the Defence Department, a delegation from Northwood and a group of officers from the Pluvier, a French public service patrol vessel stationed in Southampton.

Finally, the Minister of State for the Digital Sector, the Ambassador and the Defence Attaché awarded the Légion d’honneur to 19 British and one Australian veteran of the Second World War, at a ceremony at the French Residence.

Pupils of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and the Lycée International Winston Churchill read out the veterans’ military achievements in the presence of their families.